Singers look forward to Midland County Fair's karaoke contest

Nicholas Wendel

Published 10:30 am, Wednesday, August 14, 2013

John Wojtkun doesn't care who is watching.

He sings Neil Diamond's "Cracklin' Rosie" to an empty courtyard behind Horseshoe Arena, not realizing a reporter has slunk around the corner to eavesdrop while the deejay serenades his karaoke machine. His ponytail dances on his shoulders from underneath a red, white and blue "The Price of Freedom Isn't Free" hat.

"I've been behind a microphone since 1978," Wojtkun said. "I learned to sing when I was 15, working as a line cook."

His worn skin and sunken eyes tell tales of hard labor. But now, karaoke is his work. More specifically, WesTexasKaraoke, DJ, which is the company in charge of the Midland County Fair Karaoke Contest.

"This competition at the fair is unlike any other," Wojtkun said. "When we judge contestants, it's not just about voice. We have seven different categories. We don't just want to know how good a voice was. We want to know if they felt the song. I hate the other karaoke organizations around here. I hate them with a passion because if you don't feel like a winner, you feel like a loser."

Wojtkun hands out certificates of participation to all contestants, and the winners in each age division win a trophy and blue ribbon. The deejay picks judges randomly from the crowd.

"I ask everyone who listens to the radio to raise their hands. Then I point to three of them and say, 'You, you and you. Judges.' Then I hand them the grading packet. That way it's fair. Fair for the fair," he chuckled.

The grading criteria allows for 70 possible points and includes much more than musical prowess with categories for elements like dancing and energy. Wojtkun said no one has ever earned a perfect score.

"We've had some come within a couple of points. But they earned it," he said.

The fair begins Thursday, but signups and a practice night for the karaoke competition will be held at the Horseshoe Arena at 6 p.m. Monday. The contest is free to enter and is open to anyone over the age of 5.

That's what Wojtkun really cares about.

"There has never, ever been a karaoke contest like this in West Texas," he said. "It's for the singers that sing in the car on the way to the grocery store. The singers in the showers. People who only sing in church. The moms that sing to their children."

Moms like Kelle Underhill.

"My oldest son has won his age division every year for three years," Underhill said, glowing with pride. "All three of my kids love summer because they know when summer starts, there's only two months to karaoke."

Wojtkun greets each of Underhill's children familiarly. He knows what songs each one wants to sing. And he encourages them to do it differently, not to care who is watching.

"The music and words are right there on the screen. Don't do it the way the artist did it. Everyone's heard that. Do it your way," Wojtkun said, encouraging them.

"I never wanted to be famous," the music man muses, "I'm just the deejay. That's how I like it. If I can make someone happy, then by all means, I'm going to do it. That's why I encourage these kids to do it their way and enjoy every second of it. Don't worry what the audience is thinking."